Being one of the most laudable guitar players in the world, as well as being a key member of arguably the biggest rock band of the last 25 years, can’t be the lightest of burdens to carry. The responsibility and hype that gets heaped upon you, in addition to the constant influx of questions regarding whether or not you plan to return to your former band, must be enough to drive a person to despair at times. However, watching Slash fondly speak about working with some of his personal heroes on the Making of The Album documentary that comes with the new Deluxe Edition of his debut solo album, you’d almost believe that the legendary axeman is completely unaware of the godlike reputation that follows him.
He even appears genuinely humbled when referring to work with his other, slightly younger collaborators – people like Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother and M Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold, who were almost certainly influenced by Slash at the beginning of their own careers. One of the great things about this solo album – re-released here with a few extra live tracks and a DVD – is the way that it shows not only Slash’s own influences, from people like Lemmy, Ozzy and Iggy, but also his own influence on rock music in general over the past two decades. Solo album probably isn’t even the right term. This isn’t just a chance for him to show off, but an opportunity for him to share, contribute and participate.
For those that missed the album the first time around, when it was released in early 2010, ‘Slash’ is a collection of tracks written and recorded between the top hat-wearing rocker and a selection of his favourite vocalists from the past and present of rock’n’roll. As the album begins, on opener ‘Ghost’ featuring The Cult’s Ian Astbury, it’s impossible to miss Slash’s unmistakable brand of riffage. Close your eyes and you can almost feel ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ seeping out of the speakers.
Ozzy Osbourne’s inclusion on ‘Crucify the Dead’ really helps to prove the kind of musical chameleon that Slash is, exchanging the sleazy rock of the previous track for a darker and heavier, Sabbath-like groove. As well as borrowing the talents from the various stages of hard rock’s history, the album also delves into the numerous diversions in the genre that have occurred along the way. Forthcoming single ‘Beautiful Dangerous’ for example, which features an unlikely contribution from Fergie of Black Eyed Peas, blends pop, rock and hip-hop in a way that only Slash could know how.
Other notable favourites include Lemmy’s appearance on ‘Doctor Alibi’, Andrew Stockdale on ‘By the Sword’, which sounds a lot like Wolfmother, and ‘Watch This’ - an instrumental slice of metallic brutality that hears the rhythmic talents of one Dave Grohl and Slash’s former bandmate Duff McKagan. For the album’s closer, Slash obviously needed someone special to finish things off and Iggy Pop was able to cover it swiftly – sorry – on the punked-up hard rock jam ‘We’re All Gonna Die’.
‘Slash’ is a diverse collection of pop, blues, soul and metal tracks that are each rounded off with Slash’s trademark rock style. With a few additional live acoustic songs, including Velvet Revolver’s ‘Fall to Pieces’ and Guns n’ Roses’ ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’, this is a pretty respectable re-release of an already impressive album. It’s almost like ‘Appetite for Destruction’ all over again. But without that other guy.
Stereoboard Rating: 8/10
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For those that missed the album the first time around, when it was released in early 2010, ‘Slash’ is a collection of tracks written and recorded between the top hat-wearing rocker and a selection of his favourite vocalists from the past and present of rock’n’roll. As the album begins, on opener ‘Ghost’ featuring The Cult’s Ian Astbury, it’s impossible to miss Slash’s unmistakable brand of riffage. Close your eyes and you can almost feel ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ seeping out of the speakers. 
